The Chronicles of Thanksgiving 2008

Thursday, Nov. 28 , ( Always the last Thursday in Nov. )

8 am

Woke up. Achy all over. I don’t think any of us slept well last night. We tossed and turned, John with heartburn and feeling stuffy. I think he is coming down with something. I guess I was snoring and dreaming of Mother Confessor. I think I dreamt I was Kahlan, the Mother Confessor herself ! Quite funny !

"Is it Thanksgiving yet ? " asked Aisya. "Yes ! Happy Turkey Day 1" wishes Jennrich. Walked into the kitchen and Dad Jennrich ( Jim ) was busy chopping and making stuffing for the turkey. John showered, I showered and then got Aisya dressed for the day and helped Dad with the stuffing of the turkey. When that was done , I cleaned up and then sat down for breakfast. Crawlers (pastry), coffee and banana. At this pint in time, Aisya is busy coloring her new coloring book and eating her banana with orange juice.

"When are we putting up the Xmas tree, Abah ?" " Not yet, Aisya." " It’s Thanksgiving Day. E can do that after dinner". Was Aisya satisfied with that answer ? Apparently not ! She continues to ask the host, her grandfather Abbo Bear. " Aboo Bear, you said we can decorate the Xmas tree. Can we do that now please ?" So after compromising, John brought out the little Xmas tree that has been in the closet for many years. The little tree, all 3’ tall on its stand, with multicolored lights was decorated with ornaments that had not been out of their boxes for the longest time. Aisya and John put the ornaments on. Bright colored shapes, oval, circles, icicles, were taken out, and dangled prettily on this little tree. When it was done, it was the prettiest little thing ever ...the best part was not the tree after all. It was the look on my daughter's and her grandfather’s that were the brightest ... Guess we have moved on to Christmas on this thankful day in America.


10.30 am

Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade in New York is on TV, NBC Channel. This would mark Aisya’s first Turkey Parade, even if it is on the television. All kinds of floats, smurfs, Dora the Explorer, Snoopy, Buzz Lightyear, Sponge Bob, and singers like Miley Cyrus@Hannah Montana, Andy Williams , and some other singers whom I am not familiar with. Very commercialized.


After a while, we lost our interest in the parade. Aisya and I while watching started working on making turkey hats for all 4 of us. Dad ( Jim) was game enough to wear it and even posed for pictures !

In the meantime, while the Parade is still going , Dad and Jennrich started checking on the bird in the oven. Basting and watching over it.

By noon, after lunch, everyone knew it was time for a siesta ! The child was getting crabby. Her mama was too. John Jennrich feeling worse. All achey and stuffy and sore throat ...sigh. Dad snoring on his couch ... Nap time !





3 p.m.

Nap over ! The child is energized. Everyone congregating in the living room. Waiting for dinner. The bird is still in the oven. The smell is intoxicating. Yum ...! Table is almost set. Wait !

Need some fresh air ! Out we go and play in the snow. I guess this part of the State unlike Illinois had snow that has stuck around since Monday.

John and Aisya went outside and started rolling snow and made the first snowman for the year ! What good is it to be outside if there is no snowball fight ?! Big and small snowballs flew everywhere. My daughter was shrieking and laughing when being pelted by John and I. I laughed, ran away and threw snowballs at both. They too threw at me and we just had a great time. Simple fun. Just simple fun. To be in that moment and be present was magnificent. One for the memory.












4.15 p.m.

Dinner is served ! Turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, gravy, asparagus and a roll with butter was all we needed. Dad Jennrich, Aisya and I ate, talked and had our turkey hats on for dinner. Plenty to be thankful for. Family together. Small but still, family.

Phew ! Stuffed ! All dishes washed, everyone settled down to watch a movie. Thank goodness for Netflix. " Journey to the Centre of the Earth " . Brendan Frasier. Good and clean family movie. Well, maybe a little anxious for Aisya especially the scenes where dinosaurs were chasing the characters, snapping flying fish and Venus flytrap plants. A slice of dessert - pumpkin and sweet potato pies with a dollop of whip cream completes the picture ! Two slices you say ? Why yes - me of course. Need to taste what both are like right ?













7.30 p.m.

Dad is in bed. Jennrich on his laptop. Aisya is busy making a jungle scene. Blanket is out, bananas, stuff animals, scarfs and whatever else she can find right now to make the scenario perfect in her mind. Crunch time ! Bedtime is in 30 mins. So she is squeezing every minute of play time before I usher and burst her bubble. I am of course, busy writing ....! Soon, Thanksgiving day will be over. Till another year and another experience. John Jennrich is finally about to take some Tylenol for his symptoms. I think he has the flu but with no fever. The body is fighting it. Hopefully he will feel better tomorrow.

What of the leftover turkey ? Sandwiches, pies, straight up, or whatever you want it to be. Turkey everyday till New Year !

Till next year !

Signing off,

(Farah)

The above reproduced letter is from Farah Ainiah who wrote all the way from Chicago with a note :

Abah and Mama,

Salam ! Just thought you would like to know what Turkey day is like in the Jennrich household. Everyone celebrates differently but Thanksgiving is a day where families and friends get together and eat. No presents, no pressure. Eat and relax. Xmas is entirely a whole different story. Oh well.

Anyway, I thought if you want to put this on the blog, it would be all right. I will send some pictures on the e-mail and you can harass Aida to cut and paste or whatever. Give her something to do ! No hard feelings Aida .....

Hope everything is going well with both of you. I know you were there for Ayah Wa. Wish we could be there to give him the moral support but our prayers are with him. Please take care of yourselves and we miss both of you very much.

Will write again soon.

Love,

Ainiah